In the studio ... printing the first layer

A few more process shots of some printmaking I am enjoying today. Color guides me. What guides you?

Terra cotta projects

Just a peek at three new handbuilt pieces I finished glazing this morning. I have been having a lot of fun with the clay class and here is a peek at the results.

Printmaking Processes

Printmaking was a concentration of mine in college and well, it's been a life long passion for me too. It's never a dull day when the tools come out to make multiples in my studio. Sometimes people ask where to begin for ideas. I decided today to show a few inspirational photos to encapsulate just that. Where to begin. In a few days I will show some more progress from the beginning: inspiration and then on to the next steps. I think that it will be fun to try this here.

What sort of things inspire you to begin some work? Let me know in the comments below!

Poking around artstream

wall of animal portraits by Amy Ruppel

some new Lisa Congdon!

a wall of Tim Wirth

looking in

beautiful Kim Westad in the window

untitled by Tim Wirth
Happy Monday all! It's a perfect time of year for me here at artstream. Gearing up for my 18th year of classes, setting up our lower level at artstream for some big surprises later this year and dusting off the dry summer air in our gallery. The doors are open with the soft rain falling - so it makes for a perfect day to gather thoughts for autumn. Our gallery hasn't looked more wonderful in a while, so take a peek here with me!

Love Letters

It's never too late to send a love letter. This project happened appropriately in February 2010,but I just was pointed in it's general direction today. I really LOVE it. Philadelphia -- the mural city. Check out this website right away. So inspiring!

Ashley G "in situ"

It's always so rewarding to meet wonderful art collectors who enjoy their collection so much that they send us photos of their purchases all hung in their homes. A couple of weeks ago a lovely couple dropped by to pick up one of Ashley G's recent works - Progress. They sent this photo over today and well, it really made my day. Thanks so much Heather!

Terra Cotta cups

I made some little cups. First run, most likely I will make more. They were fun!

2 snowy tiny worlds

2 snowy tiny worlds, originally uploaded by Mimi K.

Just wanted to quickly share two of the lovely tiny worlds which Mimi K had on her flickr today. She is going to be teaching at The Art Weekend in October and we are just so excited to have her with us!

Summer is winding down

Summer Camps here at artstream are almost over. Summer classes are too - except for those fabulous Clay class students who have wheedled another two weeks out of me. That's just fine as we love them so much! Here are a few highlights of the summer classes at artstream. Did you get the memo that The Art Weekend is open for registration now? Well - it is!

100 fish

Each year we (my daughters and I) make small clay tokens for the Rochester Children's reading program at the library. One year it was aliens, the next small traffic cones and then tokens. This year's theme was involving the ocean so we made fish. This all comes from my childhood in Cedar Rapids Iowa where the local public library handed out such items after reading a designated amount of books. I always loved our library as a child and also now as an adult. So it's fitting to give back. This year we ran out of time and so some have more detail than others. I think they all made a big splash however ... (pardon the pun) Thanks have to go to Bella too as she helped out with half of them! Stay tuned for big news about The Art Weekend - registration is OPEN!

a bumbler

the weekend in the garden and lots of flower gathering. notice that the bumbler has a friend. the japanese beetle. he is a maker of holes and as pretty as his colorful outside is, i am really not happy with his appetite for our flowers.

Sushi-etiquette

via the fabulous Swissmiss how great is this?

A little this and that!

overalls in porcelain

silkscreened porcelain vase
Presenting some porcelain workshop pieces which I enjoyed making -- (which really is a little preview of what YOU canexpect to doat Megan's offerings at The Art Workshop at artstream! )

Stop by our site for more information -- registration opens on Monday - August 9,2010!!

We love our design clients so much that we let them ride their bikes right in to see us! (hee hee Dean!)

Did you happen to see these colorful Jen Mastre necklaces in the shop? We also have quite a few Amy Rice pieces on found objects!

amy rice

Here are a couple of our happy art campers this past week here at artstream. Summer camps are closed up - but there are all new classes ready to go the week of September 13th and registration is open now for them!

Giant Doily

amber and her giant doily, originally uploaded by artstreamstudios.

and Amber. She made this with her grandma and it's magnificent. Just had to share! On our way to getting the show hung for Saturday night and everything spiffed up!

Tim Wirth :: Modern Machinery

New exhibition in the works here at artstream -- Tim Wirth - Modern Machinery" Lots of goodness being sorted out to hang tomorrow afternoon. Drop by on Saturday from 5-7 p.m. for the opening party. Really. amazing. works. Check them all out in the pre-sale catagory of the shop.

psst: The Art Workshop site will be live later this afternoon - will give everyone a heads up!

Week's end wrapup

dawn by susan schwake
It's been a full week -- with lovely weather today too, it's a joy to prepare for our party tonight for "Carbon Copy" encaustic work by Amy Ruppel. Don't forget the giveaway from Blik which happens too from 5-7 during the party. The winner must be present to win at 7:15 - we will draw 5 names and they will win the beautifully designed wall decals. These decals are great for any room in the home!

one of the 3 patterns of decals to be given away tonight!

I also had some moments to finish up some work on paper which have been lying dormant for too long. Above is one of them entitled "dusk". See them in the shop too as the are ready to go

We are also busily putting the finishing touches on "The Art Weekend" portion of our site which will house all the class and teacher information, the details and the registration form. This weekend will satisfy so many requests for more extended instruction at our studios that I am thrilled we can offer it this October.

The Art Weekend at artstream ...

We are thrilled to announce a new extended souped up version of our popular one day workshops here at artstream. Appropriately enough they are called "The Art Weekend at artstream" . Friday night, Saturday all day and Sunday all day art, yoga, community and fun with some very amazing instructors and fine art classes. All set in lovely New Hampshire at peak foliage season. Think warm days and crisp nights with nothing to stand in your way of making some new discoveries about your art!

Mark your calendars for October 15 - 17th for this fall -- you won't want to miss it! All the details and accommodations info will be on a new part of our website next week. Until then shoot me an email if you just can't wait!

coming in October ...

coming in October ..., originally uploaded by artstreamstudios.

Just a little teaser ... more tomorrow!

Silkscreening on Clay workshop!

Saturday brought Megan Bogonovich to our studio and a whole lot of fun. We held a six hour clay workshop which focused on porcelain and silkscreening onto clay. I'll let the photos do the talking - interested? Just you wait -- October is going to be bringing an ENTIRE art weekend to artstreamstudios. More on that soon.

Amy Ruppel's closing party!

photo credit: Blik
It's with great excitement which I share with you all here the news of a big bonus to our "closing party" for Amy Ruppel's show on Friday August 30th here at artstream - A GIVEAWAY! of the finest sort!

Blik - the nice people who make fabulous wall decals - are giving away five (yes FIVE) of Amy's three designs to give away that night to five of the very lucky people who drop in to see the show. We will have a drawing at 7 and you must be here to win. More on the party to come!

Summertime!

It was a wonderful week at Cape Cod, with waves beyond belief, seafood, walks and lots of books. I read three books by Rachel Cusk and one by the Welch family. All good. It always is so relaxing at the beach with no real agenda but what time to leave for home or which type of food do we wish to nibble while spread on the blanket. I guess it was over due for all of us! Upon returning home, the first thing which we always run to see is the garden.

One zucchini which Iwas pretty sure was going to shrivel up and die must have loved the hot humid weather and turned into a beast!

The flowers and herbs went crazy too as you can see above - and the mystery plant - turns out to be pumpkins. We think. Maybe. Tomorrow starts a new fresh week of camps with Printmaking and I just can't wait! See you tomorrow!

Amber Lavalley :: new works

portrait of a black haired girl

boy doll
Amber Lavalley just brought in some new very affordable works on paper - portraits with modern twists. Check them all out here! I love her decorative twists she adds to these pieces...